Shadow-Star's page

tilts head in thought

"I suppose if your empire was large enough and your personality diagnostics accurate enough, you could move anyone unsuitable to the established circumstances into a different paradigm/situation. Thereby reducing the possibility of non-conformity by sorting into conforming and self replicating groups instead of altering the group dynamics otherwise. There would have to be continuing analysis done, as individuals experienced gradual or even rapid personality alteration. Group integration could reduce graduated stress on the individual level- that could be key. You'd likely have to back the process up with extensive use of 'matrix-of-change' style reinforcement."

shifts attention; looks at Imagine

"Huh? Do what?
Find Monarch's living quarters, study his HR department for their process, find the mind control system, or Shadow Walk somewhere?"

"We could check his rooms while he's out- if I ever find them.
He could have this place set up to make himself feel good about his rule.
That way we learn more before confronting him.
I'm actually on Earth to study peaceful and successful governing and I can tell you that the one thing I've learned is that this place should not be possible without a fundamental change in the actual people.
And in our time, humans have not decided exactly how to define or create those changes."

"Um, either he's in a park with kids playing or he's got a duplicate running around while he's hidden."

pause

"Why is it that every time we look for this guy's dark agenda, we come up wrong?
Unlike the one who sent us here- who attacked Earth to get us to respond.
Are we sure we're on the right side?"

"If they've been dealing with powers all this time, Hell, if he's actually one of us, there will be defenses in place.
I'll look for blank spots in the place while I'm Night Watching."

See previous rolls for initial notice/search.

Further rolls:
Notice: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (5) + 18 = 23
Search: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (10) + 17 = 27

"Hey, give me a minute- that central tower must be 4 miles high.
It's not like checking the drawers at a sorority house.
It'll take a bit.
Give me some specifics to look for if you want to speed things up.
Do you want to wreck things, locate security stations, find the throne room, or just raid the kitchens?
Should I be looking for weak points to crash the ship into, empty corners to Shadow Walk towards, some way to trigger the fire alarms, or a data station to hack up?"

Alternate: Shadow Scry (ESP R6 Visual, Flaw: Medium (shadows, darkness), PF: Subtle R2 Linked to Quickness R9, Flaw (-2): Only to use Notice, Search) (1 pt)

This power was designed to allow me to quickly look at everything in a large radius and act as a watchman for my whole city. (It's dangerous out there in the wilds.) Perhaps we will try it? R6 ESP is 20 miles, Quickness visual search is 1 months search takes 6 seconds. It requires a medium-Shadows/Darkness. (Yes, I have darkvision)(Unfortunately, if it is brightly lit enough, my goggles won't protect me from the light blindness.)

Search: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (19) + 17 = 36
Notice: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (7) + 18 = 25

"Get me closer. I'll take a look. I can see from every shadow and from every dark corner."

It's not just you; I've had the same thing going on.

"Considering how many aliens there are on Earth, I don't see how 'limiting the human meta-gene' has much point.
Or how a race all having the same power makes their culture more acceptable.
But I can't say my people's visits to Earth had any better reason or that our culture's been all that wonderful, so let's not debate it now."

"Durlans are shapeshifters.
There's some bias against them, partly for that and partly because some of the famous ones have been right evil bastards."

Fort: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24

"You lean on me, I'll lean on you."

looks at Cpt. Robo

wonders what he told them about the jaunt through Shadow

"Things are becoming so strange, I'm not sure I will notice the weirdness of time travel.
Let's try the full experience."

quietly, to himself
"I didn't hear the descendants mention time travel side effects on their visits, but- hey- he's no Braniac."

"Who is his right mind would choose to be a monarch?"

I'm attending a training conference for work for the next 2 days.
My attendance may be spotty or lacking.
I will return.

That is all.

I put this in discussion, but here it is again.

Combined attack:
-attackers delay to the same point in the round
-attackers make separate attack rolls vs. the target
-take the largest save modifier of the attacks that hit
-for each other attack that hits, add +2 to the save DC

requirement:
-each attack must use the same type of save (usually Toughness)
-each attack must be within 5 points of the save DC of the power they are adding to

example:
-4 attackers hold until the slowest one's turn; let's say the attacks are an energy blast power rank 12, a punch power rank 10, a pistol shot power rank 6, and a mental blast (will save) power rank 10.
-the mental blast could not combine attack as it uses a will save rather than a toughness save; the pistol could combine attack with the punch but not the blast, as the blast is more than 5 ranks away
-if the energy blast and the punch connect, the damage save would be 12 + 2 for a T save DC of 29; if the pistol and the punch hit, but the energy blast misses, the combined damage would be 10 + 2 for a save of 27

attacking #5, who stuck his nose into the yellow ring duel

"Let's not be rude."

Dark Blast (Damage R12, Extra: Ranged, Penetrating, PF: Affects Insubstantial R2, Precise)

Defense (To hit): 20 Toughness: +14, Impervious 12
Fort: +12 Ref:+10 Will: +14

power attack for 2

attack: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20
T save vs 29: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (2) + 14 = 16
failed by 13

Defense (To hit): 20 Toughness: +14, Impervious 12
Fort: +12 Ref:+10 Will: +14

Mongul 7 Entangled Mongul 8 Entangled
= -2 to attacks and Def and a -4 to dex, as well as being at 1/2 speed

"Rinse and re-peat."

Reflex save vs. area effect
Mongul 7: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11 failed
Mongul 8: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27 passed

Reflex save vs. Snare
Mongul 7: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12 failed
Mongul 8: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10 failed

Result: Both bound and helpless, with a further -5 to Def and, due to an extra on Shadow Snare, blinded.

"Bye-bye."

"Whee, back to space."

I'll go Insubstantial and hold on to the outside of the ship.
(I've been enjoying the view.)
Knowing comics, there's likely handholds under the ship to make it simpler for folks to lift/carry it.

Edit: Before he leaves the area, Shadow Star uses Shadow-Scry, checking to see if this is a feint to draw off the heroes.

ESP through the shadows around the Hall and it's surrounding city-scape

1d20 + 18 ⇒ (14) + 18 = 32

"Are there sensors in the hall that can tell us if the yellow team is headed here or elsewhere?"

Are the robots outside cleared up?

"I hope you don't mind if I stick close to you until my translator starts working.
I haven't learned english, yet.", Shadow Star says politely to the armored guy, hoping to distract him from noticing the tendrils of Shadow still evaporating from his armor.

pulls out translator, shakes it to see if it resets (it should if I remember nullify correctly);
looks around, What's going on out here?

Notice: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (19) + 18 = 37

"Here we go.
And Don't Look!
We're jumping through Shadow."

grabs firmly onto the armored figure, hoping there's no lurking fear of the Dark

this is a full action, see discussion for details

edit: target is shadowed side of the Hall of Justice

Proposed alternate power (using extra effort; will counter fatigue next round with a Hero Point)

alternate from array

I'll open a portal to the Shadow Plane between us and the Horde.
Without entering it, but using it's shadow/darkness as the medium for the teleport, I'll use Teleport with enough extra progression to carry Capt Robo (I'll add Portal to Teleport just so the 'effects' overlap.)

Dimensional Movement R1, Extra: Portal (4 pts)
linked with
Teleport R7, Extra: Accurate, Portal, Flaw: Medium; PF: Change Direction, Change Velocity, Easy, Progression R4 (2500 lbs) (35 points)
(Probably doesn't require both portal and progression, but whatever works.)

This will be a full round teleport, for a max range of 200 miles.

"I'm glad someone's translator is still working.
And I'm feeling like the last pickled barac at the regimental buffet.
I'm thinking we should put some emphasis on leaving.
You want a ride?
I can portal us out.
Or are you the one who tossed me up here?"

echoed by
"Pozik norbaiten itzultzaile, oraindik lan naiz.
Eta sentitzen naiz azken gazituari bezala Barac zuen errejimenduetako buffeta.
Pentsatzen dut doinu jarri beharko dugu utziz.
Paseo bat nahi duzu?
I digu ataritik egin dezakezu.
Edo bat zara nor dituena me up hemen?"

yes, i'm enjoying this

I just learned that the mesopause is 52 to 62 miles above the Earth's surface.
That's pretty high.

I'm guessing the view is pretty cool, though.

The yellow sphere makes a curving but steep ascent through the atmosphere, heading out beyond the atmosphere. Shale accelerates Shadow-Star, following it up to mesopause. The cold crackles around the two of them, a normal person would quickly freeze to death at these heights.

The sphere accelerates into the near vacuum, growing smaller as it moves away from you.

"Not just yet." Echoed by"Ez soilik oraindik."

Extra Effort for +2R, Shadow Bind (Snare R12 becomes R14, Extra: Area Burst, PF: Obscures Vision, Affects Insubstantial R2); so 70 ft radius, max range 1400 ft; Reflex DC 24 for area effect, if successful, Reflex DC17; if failed Reflex DC24 vs. Snare; if second Reflex failed, target becomes Entangled; if second Reflex failed by 5 or more, target is bound and Helpless; note: Snare effect is being wrapped in Shadows, blocking vision and has full effect vs insubstantial.

presuming the yellow sphere is still in range and able to be affected

1st Reflex save without knowing bonus: 1d20 ⇒ 5
2nd Reflex save without knowing bonus: 1d20 ⇒ 16

If Reflex bonus is 12 or better, target is unaffected; if Reflex bonus is less than +7, target is Entangled; if Reflex bonus is less than +2, target is bound and Helpless.
Evasion would help vs the first save.
Entangled means cannot move if anchored to an immobile object (I doubt if an area effect attack which is instant would count.), otherwise can only move at half speed and cannot move all out or charge.
Target might be slowed enough from the Entangle for Shadow Star to get off a second shot and increase Entangled to bound and Helpless.
Target can break out of the Snare using Strength, by using an attack vs Toughness 12 (automatically if the damage rating is 24+, or by making an Escape Artist check vs DC34.

As the special effect of Shadow Bind is being bound by Shadows, it could reasonably be countered by effects dealing with energy or brightness, especially something like coherent yellow light energy, say from a power ring or similar effect.

If you pull out vectors, as long as you have a positive vector in the up direction, you would eventually reach orbit. But wind resistance, etc. would like require more than just positive lift, as you would have to counter drag/etc. So we agree.

but it's been along time since college, so I may have that a bit off.

Um, wrong discussion thread?

I thought the movie 'The Mouse on the Moon" proved that you just needed a constant thrust of more than 1 gravity to achieve space travel?

Are you saying a movie with Peter Sellers used bad physics?

"What the Hell?!?!?"

translates as

"Ze arraio?!?!?"

distracted thought, "Efficient language, for cussing at least."

Notice to see the Yellow Glow: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (6) + 18 = 24

to clarify, 'pointless to join' since the translator is on the fritz

watches the group coming together and talking

"That's pointless to join."

dismisses the darkness, tries to follow the yellow sphere

flight speed only 100 mph, so likely not enough

Shale, I saw what you're talking about when I checked the thread from a friend's cash register/monitor, but have no problems seeing your name correctly from either work or home computers.

Big Robot: Defense -3 (7), Toughness +20 (Impervious 12 Force Field), Reflex +2

Flier Robots: Defense 0 (10), Toughness +10, Reflex +5
Tank Robots: Defense +2 (12), Toughness +12 (Impervious 8), Reflex +2

All are immune to fortitude and will save effects.

A new figure enters the battle, though he's somewhat familiar- I'm just not sure from where.

"Berandu dut nire apologies. Central City nengoen.", he says.

Huh? Now the translator fails? Great.
shakes translator
tries speaking
"The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain."
hears "Espainian euri, batez ere, lautada batean."

OK, it's translating, at least.
I wonder what language that is.

Well, let's see.
The Bot's down, so gray guy should be on the side of the League.
And Supergirl, of course.
Other than that, anyone destroying bots is likely here to help the League, as well.
Likely.
Mama told me there's be days like this.
#%@**^%>!

Not sure if I'm in range, but the communicate power on my amulet is low powered.
Let's see if a Will save helps

Will: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13

And I don't understand English 'till I can re-start it.
Very thematic for a meet-and-beat story.

Shadow Star shakes off the strain of his effort and sees little result from his action .
There are just too many of the smaller robots.

uses hero point to cancel cost of extra effort

Taking out fliers isn't slowing them down, maybe taking out the battle ship will reduce their firepower.

He remembers his Father saying that sometime, in a battle, it's best to get the tanks out of the way before the troops can be stopped.
Let's try that.

tries another alternate with another extra effort
Alternate Power: Shadow Blast R12, Autofire (+12 to hit, T DC 27 +1 per 2 pts Att exceeds Def)
Normally +12 to hit with ranged, Power attack makes it +7; BigBoy def is -3 and it looks like toughness is down to 14.

attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
Base power of attack 12 + 5 from PA + 5 from Autofire makes this a power 22 attack

Robot's T save: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (8) + 14 = 22
Fails by 15, which should be down and out, dependent upon other powers it might have.

Edit: toughness 13, still works

What is this Earth game you speak off?
We have no such thing on my planet.
Unless you count hunting for Snorks with a Lorph blaster.

I didn't roll saves because I don't know how many targets I was able to attack. I have no problem rolling them, but I won't presume to decide how many targets were in range.
While on the subject, I have no problem with tumbler rolling saves for me when necessary, either.

Inspired by Supergirl's action and having lured a group of the Buzz-bots into getting close, Shadow Star hovered in the center of his field of darkness, focused for a moment, and then released a measure of his constant control over the connection between the Plane of Shadows and his physical presence.

Using Extra Effort to Power Stunt for an alternate of his array:
Damage R12, Touch range and Area Effect Burst, PF:Progression R4 for an area equal to the Shadowfield (500' radius). For effect, Linked with Environmental Control R8 (1000' radius), Duration: Instant; Effect: reduce visibility, -4 on Notice and Search checks.

"Let the remnants of these reivers fall like rain from the sky!" shouts Shadow Star, as the world momentarily dims around him.

Ref DC 22 to reduce T DC to 21, otherwise T DC 27, to all inside the area. No save on the instant effect of light fleeing the presence of Shadow.

do the fliers show signs of being bothers by the Obscure effect vs. all visual?

Shadow Star appears on the roof-top and takes it all in.

Wrapping his Shadow around himself, he flies above the melee and puts a 500 ft radius stationary field of Darkness around himself and several of the flyers. He begins blasting one with shadow-bolts.

Blast: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 12 = 17
Rnk 12 Penetrating

It looks like this melee is all about arriving-one-by-one.

"Come on in, waters fine!"

looks up from his books, turns pale

GULPS

says to his Shadow

"Looks like vacation time is over. Dad said this day would come."

puts on his Dad's old suit before he Shadow Walks to rooftop near Hall Of Justice in DC

Also, if anyone knows of a better avatar image, I'm open to it.

I was hoping for something with goggles, but racially have blue skin and pointed ears, though not white hair.

(Also, from DC images, my people tend to the gorgeous end and the women, at least, have the same 'comfortable in minimal clothing' thing found among iconic sorceresses.)

A thought.

What if the entire League was summoned to the satellite, it disappeared/ was blocked off or stolen.
A per-arranged signal goes out to the players.

"You have not been approached yet, but the JL has had it's eye on you.
Events now require your help."

Events could be the reason they were all called together, or if they're away dealing with that, the normal run of emergencies and villains.

I realize this in not really any different than the set-ups already discussed, but the concrete process of getting a 'we've been watching/ you're on our list for membership/ you've got to help' is firing my imagination.

"Batman and Superman need my help? But I'm just a kid and not even from Earth."

squares shoulders

"I'm in."

present

Captain Robo: ranged blasting, super science, some control
Shadow Star: ranged blasting, some control/scrying, weird dimensional effects, alien/space worthy